Dmitry Magonya and Yaroslav Kulik, partners of ART DE LEX, took part in a so-called zero reading of the draft federal law regarding the Free Port of Vladivostok
On 2 April 2015, a zero reading related to the draft federal law on the Free Port of Vladivostok took place in the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. Such zero readings, a unique part of the Russian legislative process, enable experts as well as the executive and branches of government to eliminate difficulties with proposed legislation before it goes through the three readings in the State Duma. The proposed law addresses such issues as the implementation of business activities in various municipal territories in the Far East Federal District. Furthermore, the Free Port of Vladivostok will provide preferences for residents in the areas of taxation, customs activity, as well as pension and insurance assignments, and it will create favorable conditions for developing the region and stimulating the foreign trade activity.
Alexander Osipov, the first deputy minister of the Russian Federation for development of the Far East, and Pavel Volkov, the adviser to the minister, introduced the drafts of the federal laws. The deputy minister explained that the bills will be the subject of a series of discussions involving the public and experts taking place in both Moscow and in Vladivostok to air the opinions of interested individuals before preparing the final documents.
Representatives of regional public authorities, such as Sergey Nekhayev, the vice governor of Primorsky Krai, Alexander Kostenko, the chairman of the Committee of the Legislative Assembly on Economic Policy and Property of the Primorsky Krai, Igor Pushkarev, the mayor of Vladivostok, along with representatives of business associations as well as the scientific and expert community, took part in the discussion about the package of federal law drafts.
According to Sergey Nekhayev, the vice governor of Primorsky Krai, suggestions the participants make at the various discussions will influence the final package of federal laws regarding the Free Port of Vladivostok. Already, such input has changed the territorial borders of free port zone. It likely will include 12 municipalities of the Primorsky Krai, with the Vladivostok agglomeration in the center. Other changes already contained in the draft legislation pertain to defining a resident of the free port, addressing the question of land seizure, as well as outlining the structure and function of the Supervisory Board.
Participants in the hearings expressed their opinions concerning a number of details about the package of bills and their concern about the impact of the proposed legislation on the development of the region. Some experts made critical remarks about the bills, while others recommended significant expansion in the number of preferential advantages for businesses. To improve drafts of the bill, participants in the discussions made suggestions regarding the legal procedures of writing the draft federal law and the elimination of contradictions in the proposed legislation.
In his concluding statement, Alexander Osipov, the first deputy minister of the Russian Federation for development of the Far East, noted that those writing the bill will consider carefully all the experts’ opinions and remarks. They will influence the final document that the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation soon will send to the State Duma.
